Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/169

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

reaching the age limit; appointed official referee by the state legislature in 1912.

Rives, Francis E., born in Virginia ; com- pleted preparatory studies; elected as a Democrat to the twenty-fifth and twenty- sixth congresses (March 4, 1837-March 3, 1841 ) ; declined a renomination ; died at Littleton, Sussex county, Virginia, Novem- ber 30, 1861.

Roane» John, born at "Uppowac/' King William county, February 9, 1766, son ci John Roane, of Essex county, Virginia; completed preparatory studies; presidential elector on the Washington ticket; member of the state house of representatives; dele- gate to the state constitutional convention, 17S8: elected as a Republican to the elev- enth, twelfth and thirteenth congresses (March 4, 1809-March 3, 1815) ; and to the twentieth, twenty-first and twenty-second congresses (March 4, 1827-March 3, 1833): and to the twenty-fourth congress (March 4. 1835-March 3. 1837); died at his resi- dence. "Uppowac." King William county. \'irginia. November 15, 1838.

Robertson, John, born at **Belfield," near Petersburg, X'irginia. in 1787, son of William Robertson, merchant, and Elizabeth Boi- ling, his wife; completed preparatory studies and was graduated from William and Mary College; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Richmond, Virginia; attorney-general of Virginia; elected as a Whig to the twenty-third congress to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of An- drew Stevenson ; reelected to the twenty- fourth and twenty-fifth congresses, and served from December 8. 1834. to March 3, 1839 ; judge of the circuit court of Virginia for several years; died at "Mount Athos,"

near Lynchburg, Virginia, July 5, 1873. H^ v/as a brother of Lieutenant-Governor Wyndham Robertson (q. v.).

Rutherford, Robert, probably a son of Thomas Rutherford, who represented Hampshire county in the house of burgesses from 1761 to 1765; was burgess for Fred- crick county in 1766- 1773, ^^^ Berkeley county. 1774-1776; member of the conven- tions of July and December, 1775, and May, 1776; elected to the third and fourth con- gresses (March 4. 1793-March 3, 1797) ; de- feated for reelection to the fifth congress (see vol. ii, p. 318).

Samuels, Green Berry (q. v., under "Judges of the Supreme Court of Appeals").

Seddon, James A. (q. v.).'

ShefFey, Daniel, born in Frederick, ^lary- land, in 1770; received a fair education, and Itarned the trade of shoemaker in his father's shop; at age of twenty-one settled in Au- gusta, Virginia, and there followed his trade; afterward studied law, was admitted to the bar, practiced his profession and was successful; removed to Staunton, Virginia, also Abbeville, Virginia ; served in the house of delegates; elected as a Federalist to the eleventh, and to the three succeeding con- gresses (March 4, 1809-March 3, 1817), and took a high rank ; his speech in favor of the renewal of the first bank of the United States was a masterly production; he was opposed to the war of 1812; in a contro- versy with John Randolph, the latter said: 'The shoemaker ought not to go behind his last;" Mr. SheflFey retorted: **If that gentleman had ever been on a shoemaker's bench, he would never have left it;" he died at Staunton. Virginia, December 3, 1830.

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